Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College women's lacrosse team survived the elements and weathered the storm Friday afternoon routing the Missionaries of Whitman 23-7 at Memorial Stadium.
With the win the Poets move back over .500 at 4-3, 1-3 SCIAC, have now won three in a row, and are perfect in non-conference play at 3-0. They are also 4-1 at home.
The 23 goals also reaches a milestone in the Whittier College women's lacrosse history books as the third most in a single game. The most is 27, which was earned back in 2008 on April 4 when the Poets beat Adrian College 27-6. The second highest total came in 2010 on March 24 when Whittier beat Pomona-Pitzer 25-10.
Lexie Meanor (Sewickley, PA) and Nina Henelsmith swapped goals early to open up the scoring. Whitman would take the lead soon after with an unassisted goal by Anna Melville but that lead would soon be short-lived as Whittier would go on an ensuing 7-0 run that moved the score to 8-2.
During the run, Meanor would add a couple, Daniella Delledera (Livermore, Calif.), Rachel Lansner (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.) and Lauren Tudor (Bellevue, WA) would add free position goals.
Whitman broke up the run at the 16:40 mark but Meanor would follow that with a man-up goal being assisted by D. Delledera that put momentum back in the Poets favor as they would wrap up the half on a 3-1 run taking a 12-5 lead into the break. Tudor and Meanor would combo for the three unanswered.
In the second half the Poets defensive unit stood strong holding the Missionaries to just two goals on seven shots. WC started off the second half on a 4-1 run and would put the game out of reach putting the finishing touches on their most lopsided victory of the season with the final seven goals. Rebekah Delledera (Livermore, Calif.) went off during the run scoring four.
Meanor finished with six goals and an assist with three groundballs and four draw controls. Tudor had five goals and three assists with eight groundballs and nine draw controls, while causing five turnovers and the Delledera sisters would combine for seven goals, three assists, four groundballs, and two caused turnovers.
Whittier controlled every facet of the game winning the draw controls 27-5, groundball battle 28-11, was a perfect 8-8 on clear attempts, 3-8 on free position attempts, and took 36 shots compared to Whitman's 14.
Madison Topping (El Dorado Hills, Calif.) picked up her fourth victory making three saves against eight shots.
Whittier returns to action Monday, March 14 when they take on Wheaton (MA) at 7:00pm.
